Written by: Naël El Kastani
Approaching the anatomy course
Understanding your anatomy course
To truly grasp a course, regardless of the subject, you must start by understanding the concepts you are studying. It is not enough to simply read your notes or look through anatomy textbooks. To really learn and assimilate, you need to go further. For instance, you could draw diagrams to better visualize anatomical structures. With this book/e-book illustrated by Axel Devillard, learn to sketch anatomy even if you don't know how to draw!
A drawing can help you retain information more easily! By making the effort to represent the details of the human body, you retain more over the long term. Incorporating colors into your notes and diagrams can facilitate memorization. This method allows you to better understand the human body and develop a solid foundation for your health studies.
Devoting enough time to the subject of human anatomy
Anatomy is a fundamental subject for students of medicine, physiotherapy, osteopathy, ethiopathy, or chiropractic. It is essential to devote the necessary time to it. Not dedicating enough time risks penalizing you later on. To master this science, it is important to review your courses regularly. Plan revision sessions to learn and review parts of the human body. Using atlases, videos, and summary sheets can make learning more efficient. The anatomy plates by J. Brizon and J. Castaing, for example, are very useful. Learning the human body through drawing and visual resources makes the study more interactive and enjoyable.
Reviewing your course frequently and using colors
You forget anatomy 7 times and learn it 8 times! It is therefore important to review your courses regularly. Repetition and the use of colors in your notes can greatly help you. Here are the color codes used:
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Blue: Veins + efferent nerve pathways
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Red: Arteries and muscles + afferent nerve pathways
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Yellow / white: Nervous system
- Green: Articular + lymphatic system
This technique makes information clearer and easier to memorize. In addition, color-coded diagrams are more engaging and allow you to better integrate, and therefore know, human anatomy and physiology inside out.
Learning in a regular and organized manner allows you to better assimilate knowledge. Diagrams, summary sheets, and specialized books give you a detailed overview of anatomical structures. This helps you not only to learn by heart but also to understand how the body works.
It is a complex but fascinating subject. By dedicating time every day, you will be able to progress quickly and find pleasure in studying. Ultimately, finding your ideal learning method will allow you to succeed and achieve a perfect mastery of the human organism.
Find your learning method!
Look for mnemonics
Mnemonics are effective techniques for facilitating the memorization of anatomy. These methods rely on the use of puns, phrases, or visual associations to remember the order of bones, muscles, or nerves.
Here are a few...
For cranial nerves, you can use a phrase like: "Oh Oh Oscar! Ta Tante A Fait Vite Grossir son Ventre Avant l’Heure". It will help you easily remember the order and names of the nerves.
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Olfactory nerve (I)
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Optic nerve (II)
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Oculomotor nerve (III)
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Trochlear nerve (IV)
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Trigeminal nerve (V)
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Abducens nerve (VI)
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Facial nerve (VII)
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Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
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Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
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Vagus nerve (X)
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Accessory nerve (XI)
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Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
Beyond this, you can go even further and remember the functions of the nerves in their numerical order:
"Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More."
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Sensory (I)
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Sensory (II)
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Motor (III)
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Motor (IV)
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Both (V)
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Motor (VI)
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Both (VII)
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Sensory (VIII)
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Both (IX)
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Both (X)
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Motor (XI)
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Motor (XII)
These mnemonics make studying anatomy more interactive and enjoyable. They help you better assimilate knowledge and improve your long-term memory.
Draw, Repeat and Collaborate!
Grab a pencil, a blank sheet of paper, and scribble! Even if you aren't an artist, drawing is a crucial step in learning. Instructors often ask detailed questions about the position, shape, and interrelation of structures. For example, they might ask you to represent the deltoid muscle and explain how it covers the shoulder. By drawing, you actively engage your brain in the spatial understanding of anatomy, which strengthens your memorization and overall comprehension.
Recite, repeat, and practice again. Regular review is the key to proper assimilation. The more time you spend reviewing information, the more it gets stored in your long-term memory. Going over the same concepts multiple times allows you to consolidate them and retain them better.
By discussing with your classmates, sharing your knowledge, and comparing your drawings, you can deepen your understanding collaboratively. Group discussions offer the opportunity to explain concepts to others, which further strengthens your own understanding.
Keep in mind the quote by Nicolas Boileau: "What is well conceived is clearly said, and the words to say it flow with ease." Clearly understanding anatomical concepts will not only allow you to retain them more easily but also to explain them clearly and precisely to others. Remember that while you go faster alone, you go further together.
Visualizing anatomy
Use diagrams, drawings, and images to mentally visualize anatomical arrangements. Visualization allows you to create a clear and detailed mental image of each structure, which facilitates the understanding of complex interactions between different elements. The more you visualize, the more you conceive, and the more effectively you retain information.
Taking anatomical charts and seeing if I am able to spot all the structures represented on them is a great way to self-assess!
Conclusion
To master anatomy successfully, it is crucial to integrate several strategies. Use your pencils to draw each system, regularly review your lessons, work in groups to enrich your knowledge, and visualize the relationships between different elements as much as possible. By combining these approaches, you will be able to develop a deep and lasting understanding of anatomy.